US Layoffs — November 2009
The US labor market showed signs of rising strain as employers submitted 242 WARN Act notices in November 2009, putting at risk an estimated 25,560 workers — up substantially from October and down 35% versus November 2008. Filings came from 26 states and territories, with an average of 106 workers per notice.
Top States by Workers Affected
| State | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| New York | 19 | 5,351 |
| California | 81 | 4,348 |
| Pennsylvania | 15 | 2,849 |
| Ohio | 13 | 2,207 |
| Texas | 25 | 1,539 |
| Georgia | 16 | 1,274 |
| Michigan | 7 | 1,159 |
| New Jersey | 9 | 1,012 |
| Missouri | 5 | 969 |
| Florida | 10 | 767 |
| Arizona | 6 | 606 |
| Indiana | 5 | 552 |
| Delaware | 1 | 550 |
| Alabama | 2 | 543 |
| Kentucky | 6 | 525 |
| Louisiana | 5 | 384 |
| Rhode Island | 3 | 189 |
| Maryland | 3 | 135 |
| Washington | 4 | 135 |
| Iowa | 1 | 109 |
| New Hampshire | 1 | 90 |
| Vermont | 1 | 84 |
| Kansas | 1 | 77 |
| Utah | 1 | 71 |
| Oklahoma | 1 | 34 |
| Idaho | 1 | 1 |
New York led the nation with 5,351 workers affected across 19 notices , followed by California (4,348 workers) and Pennsylvania (2,849 workers) .
Industry Breakdown
| Industry | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing | 89 | 8,410 |
| Transportation | 19 | 7,340 |
| Information & Technology | 35 | 2,177 |
| Healthcare | 9 | 1,319 |
| Accommodation & Food | 9 | 1,196 |
| Retail | 19 | 1,173 |
| Finance & Insurance | 19 | 694 |
| Agriculture | 3 | 409 |
| Professional Services | 10 | 265 |
| Mining & Energy | 1 | 181 |
The Manufacturing sector emerged as the hardest-hit sector with 8,410 workers across 89 notices. Separately, Transportation reported 7,340 workers.
Layoff Type Analysis
| Type | Notices | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Closure | 31 | 8,577 |
| Layoff | 36 | 3,554 |
Closures accounted for 34% of all affected workers nationally, with the majority of events being layoffs rather than full closures.
Largest Layoffs
| Company | Location | Workers | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Penn Traffic Company/P&C Quality Stores/Warehouses | Syracuse, New York | 4,142 | Closure |
| The Penn Traffic Company Bi-Lo Quality, P&C Stores and Distribution Centers | New York, Pennsylvania | 1,441 | Closure |
| Pfizer | Chesterfield, Missouri | 675 | Layoff |
| Bae Systems San Diego Ship Repair | San Diego, California | 621 | |
| Lockheed Martin Space Systems | Sunnyvale, California | 568 | |
| Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa | Kelseyville, California | 559 | |
| Valero Delaware City Refinery | Delaware City, Delaware | 550 | |
| NetJets Aviation | Columbus, Ohio | 466 | |
| GM Manufacturing Mansfield | Mansfield, Ohio | 413 | |
| AEES Automotive Engineered Plastic Components | Mattawan, Michigan | 372 | Closure |
Topping the list was The Penn Traffic Company/P&C Quality Stores/Warehouses in Syracuse, New York, reporting 4,142 affected workers. The Penn Traffic Company Bi-Lo Quality, P&C Stores and Distribution Centers followed with 1,441 workers.
Trend & Outlook
This marks the third consecutive month of rising layoff activity.
These figures highlight a mixed picture for the nation's labor market, with activity diverging between monthly and annual comparisons. The Manufacturing sector warrants close attention heading into the next period.
This report covers all WARN Act filings with notice dates in November 2009. The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act requires employers with 100+ employees to provide 60-day advance notice of mass layoffs and plant closings. Data is sourced from official state filings and updated daily by WARN Firehose, which also tracks SEC 8-K filings, bankruptcy proceedings, H-1B visa petitions, and unemployment claims across all six datasets. API access and data exports available.